Control switch of the push-push type



y 1952 A. SIMON! 2 ,598,613

CONTROL SWITCH OF THE PUSH-PUSH TYPE 7 Filed March 9, 1950 Arlwl Inventor Ackornegs Patented May 27, 1952 OFFICE CONTROL SWITCH OF THE PUSH-PUSH TYPE ArnoldSimoni, Granby, Quebec, Canada Application March 9, 1950, Serial No. 148,548

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to a control switch and more particularly to a control switch of the push-push type.

' The term "push-pus as applied to a type of control switch means that the on and off positions of the switch are successively assumed by the simple pressure on theend of an actuating shaft.

Switches of the push type are already known which are either normally closed or open and will be respectively opened or closed by applying pressure on an actuating button but will stay so only so long as said pressure is applied, or push-push types having, however, means requiring a heavy and long pressure stroke.

Accordingly the main object of the present invention is the provision of a control switch which will successively assume an on and off position upon a light and short pressure stroke on the end of an actuating shaft or control member, said switch maintaining its desired position even after the pressure has ceased to exist.

Another important object, according to the present invention, is the provision of an electric switch of the character above mentioned in which the control member is a single actuating shaft or button.

Still another important object, according to the present invention, is the provision of a control switch of the character above mentioned which is of a simple construction and will stand service for a considerable period of time.

Still another important object, according to the present invention, is the combination of an electric switch of the push-push type as described hereabove with an electronic'control such as a rheostat, potentiometer and the like used in electronic apparatus and actuated by means of a I rotary movement.

Still another important object, according to the present invention, is a combination of a movement of said same shaft.

Yet another important object, according to trol.

the present invention, is the provision of a combined switch and volume control for a radio receiver and like electronic apparatus, in which it will not be necessary to adjust the volume control every time the switch is turned on, therefore providing for longer service of said volume con- The foregoing and other important objects according to the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawing in which: I v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one application of the control switch, according to the present invention, in the form of a combined variable resistance and switch for use with an electronic apparatus;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fractional cross-section along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation view of the main elements of the electric switch of the present invention along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figures 5, 6, and 7 are longitudinal sections of the electric switch of the present invention taken at different stages of its operation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing in which like reference-characters indicate like elements throughout, the numeral I indicates a cylindrical housing made of insulating material and centrally supporting a metallic sleeve 2 which is threaded on the outside to receive a nut 3 for securing the device according to standard practice.

The housing I is closed at the end opposite the sleeve 2 by means of a metallic annular disc 4 secured to the housing I by means of radial integral strips 5 bent over said housing. Said annular disc 4 is further provided with metallic strips 6 outwardly projecting for supporting the switch housing I made of insulating material and closed at its outer end to form a base plate 8 for the switch.

The two housings I and I have substantially the same diameter and are therefor seen to form a continuous cylinder-like housing which is made of two sections.

The control shaft 9 is rotatively and slidably inserted through and supported by the sleeve 2, extends centrally of the housing I and through the annular disc 4 to be terminated by a flange I0 positioned inside the housing I.

The shaft 9 isrrotatively and slidably locked by means of stud II'inwardly projecting and secured to the sleeve 2 and engaging a suitable device annular groove [2 made in the shaft 9. The portion l3 of the shaft extending inside the housing I is preferably flat milled as shown in Figure 3 to rotatively actuate the rotary member or arm 14, the outer end l5 of which is in slidable electrical contact with' a resistance strip l6 peripherally extending on the inner face of the cylindrical housing I. The rotary arm l4 and resistance strip-l6 are: suitably connected to the :terminals I'lextending outside of the housing I.

Thus it is seen that the rotary movementsof the shaft 9 which is actuated by means of the control knob I8 will operate the variable resistance or potentiometer device in the combination shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Because the shaft 9 is adapted to efiect .an axial movement for operating the switch contained in the housing 1, it is seen thatthe rotary arm I4 is slidably enclosing the shaft 9 and is iconstantly urged towards the sleeve 2 by means d e: s in 4a which co taq sse dq rm andthepartitiOn or annular disc 4.

.{ h s h e. wi l e e. an v di laceme e;pf thejcontacting, end [5 of the.;rotary ar n ".45;

i, --relative to the resistance strip 16, thereby minimizing the wear of the latter.

@ #fler l id ecure the fla e- Ha d preferab y extending along-the\axis 0f the, shaft 9. q The crum legs 23integrally dependent onbothsides 10 t en a ev rlmemb r, rock r 2.4.

The lever member 24, preferablymade .of insulating material, iscapable of a rockin movement in a plane extending at; right angles: wjthx -4t1' hQ3 X oile roov :2 .lzforac uatinev the; elonsated conta memb r125; which is i posed 1ongitudinally of said lever, memberifl, between v the zwozfu crumle r ii flhehccntactj member consists oi .arstr-ip 10f electrically conductin material;,providedywith .1twQ parallel slits: .125; ;lo ngitudinally extendin e yen-a substantialtportion;of,the. same and gdeing two, sidepportions; 2 8. which :;have ibeen .drawn. as .,by.; peening vso .as to have. a: natural length; substantially, greater :than the: lengthof i he medial-elongated. portion :21 'OfgSaid; contact t ons 1 "Th f l openposition; is assum d wheni,

t e s ortions 28,-1i6bfil0 t ehmiddl ln rt wo ues how w n F u e n curved-incsuch a manner as to cause the outer e ndg il ofsthe -:ecnt m mber q-as ume on nnosi he ciosed positi nis:assumedwhenzthe ani d e, p t o 1 =1i swb l w he si eP tia is .2 causing the latter to be inwardly gc ved-wvith erespect to theqbase plate 8; thereby prod-ucing the closing .ofthewouter endfitl.

The contact "member-25 isadapted; to close I the circuit between, the two-outerlterminals -3 I,

one of which is lsecuredtto the -rivet129; ,andq-the other to; the contact fly-611 33? securedto the base lplatengopposite thei free; end -33 oi saidi; contact 4 The contact member 25 is actuated by the lever member 24 the inner projections 33 and. 34 of which come alternatively in pressing contact with said contact member near its end secured to the base plate 8 and near its free end respectively. The projection 33 is adjacent the pivot point 22 so that the extent of its arcuate movement is much less than the extent of the arcuate'movement of the projection 34.

The base plate 8 is fiurther provided with a shallow groove 35 extending intermediate the groove 2| and the rivet 29, said groove 35 being opposite the projection 33 of the lever member 24. Thus when the projection 33 comes into contact with the contact member 25 the latter is'madeto slightly engage said recess 35 thereby facilitating its outward bending movement.

The lever member 24 is provided with two juxtaposed substantially conical recesses 33 and 31 which are converging in the direction of their nm t :ed p therertien 1 e..- :mem er -2- s pa a in vtwo-re essee thin enough so that the free end of thep .vwhen at'rest will be opposite either'qne of;;said rec s s e dineton the res iq rei t 'er member Mas .shqwn; i i'ig re Gran -1i ted iline in-Fi e'l.

In order to maintain the lever :mgrnh @1 witht gr .3 1 le t finefifl i.

- m of al is SQCum 2 1 11311 19n- -by means of a rivetggflwas shown-in li'igure fl, V ,saidspring 39 being in the form of a yoke gat v -one of;its free ends for-mingtwolegs resp t -ve n a in t et 't e1-tWo-.-i erl% legs -23 :to .exert thereon a pressure towards the base plate ;8. I

- The-legs 4 i are -adapted to lay rlat against -faces;42. orthe fulcrum legs order ta h J xmemb vx tri Ti -p cke closed position.

.: e th the le 1 o it ei estanes spring 39 retained; by the rivet lq; is

. wa em- ,the: a e ate Q 3' $11 4 5 332.,

tion of the switch by the axial mo me 1 t the; pin 2 0 towards-the latter the. p inreturned 1 to its :initial ;-position upon n t f eseinswd p enz"thepn tatie engage. recess r35, assho wn in 5, and the lever rnemberpl will, be fial sfi ie to u pivoti about 2 2 and ,the projection} 3 will press against the r. ...ce tact m mb r. ,2 lse-as. taeffi etp en ng, of t i is m U ton Withd aw n v t p itl mth latt rill ess mem i iea serene-51m n Figure 6 opposite the recess 37, while the-lever p I 24 will bei maintained injts open pjositio n by means. of. the-lea i rin 3 [Thu r en. f rth inward movement' of vlpin gfl the pinj l 0, a e t elori ina irece sfi -inlord ,tonclese th .switch. I

,ThQSW PGhna Q fQ Q t the-presentinyen q -,.is especially, useful -;for;use combin t' th a volume control forradio and rtel ey s n receivers. or electronic ode,vicesv in general, because it is not necessary to readjust the volume control upon turning on said switch when said radio receiver is already set on a definite wave length. Thus wear of the volume control is considerably diminished and will, therefore, give a much longer life service.

It is obvious that the push-push switch, according to the present invention, may be used in a number of diflerent applications wherein it is necessary to have a switch that will maintain its on or off position after it has been actuated by means of a simple and light pressure of short course on the end of a control member, said pressure being exerted always in the same direction.

While a preferred embodiment according to the present invention has been illustrated and described it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having described my invention I claim:

In an electric switch of the push-push type, said switch having a contact member for closing and opening a circuit and consisting of a strip slitted longitudinally to a pair of outside portions and a center portion, said portions being relatively deformed by peening so that the length of the center is different from the outside portions, a rocker fulcrumed over the cona projection at each end of the rocker adapted to engage the corresponding end of the contact member, one of said projections engaging the center and the other projection the outside portions of the contact member respectively, means for passively retaining the rocker in either of its engaging positions with the contact member, the said rocker having an angularly diverging recess in its outer face opposed to the contact member on each side of the fulcrum, and an axially movable and spring retractable plunger for engaging in turn each of the recesses as said plunger is extended into said recesses, whereby the rocker is alternately rocked from one side to the other to engage the portions of the contact member causing said member to snap into circuit closing and circuit opening position.

ARNOLD SIMONI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,701,357 Butler Feb. 5, 1929 1,726,897 Horn Sept. 3, 1929 1,966,285 Deans July 10, 1934 2,015,425 Gaubert Sept. 24, 1935 2,524,410 Trainor Oct. 3, 1950 

